Recording-and-reproducing apparatus and content-managing method

ABSTRACT

A recording-and-reproducing apparatus for managing content data recorded on a removable recording medium includes: a device configured to acquire reproduction information required for reproducing the content data; a device configured to generate a first management file for individually managing the content data; a device configured to register control information for the content data in a second management file collectively managing the content data. Further, the apparatus includes a device configured to read out the control information in the second management file recorded on the recording medium; a memory in which the control information of the second management file read out by the read-out device is expanded; a device configured to compare the control information in the second management file expanded in the memory and the content data recorded on the recording medium; and a device configured to update the control information in the second management file expanded in the memory.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention contains subject matter related to Japanese PatentApplication JP 2006-269892 filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Sep.29, 2006, the entire contents of which being incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a recording-and-reproducing apparatusand a content-managing method. Specifically, the present inventionrelates to a recording-and-reproducing apparatus and a content-managingmethod, which are suitable that, for example, a camera built-in typerecording-and-reproducing apparatus or the like carry out thereproduction of a content written by another device.

2. Related Art

In recent years, recording media, such as CD-RW (CompactDisc-ReWritable) and DVD-RW (Digital Versatile Disc-ReWritable), onwhich data can be repetitively written or deleted, are spreading withlow-pricing.

On these disk-shape recording media, data can be recorded in conformityto the Universal Disk Format (UDF). The recorded disk-shape recordingmedium based on UDF allows a user to randomly access the predetermineddata, so that data, such as image data and audio data can be written ascontents and the written contents can be deleted. In many cases,therefore, the information written on the recording media can becollectively managed in a content-management table in acontent-management file, and so on.

For instance, the content-management table manages attributioninformation, such as information about a point to the “content”representing a position where a content is recorded, recording time anddate, or a protect; a thumbnail (image) of the content, and textinformation about the title of the content.

Therefore, when the content recorded on the recording medium isreproduced from the recording medium, the content data is accessedaccording to a pointer-indicated location on the “contents” of acontent-management table. The reproduction information for reproducingthe content (e.g., information about the codec-type or thedata-resolution of data that constitutes the content) is then obtainedfrom the data itself or part of the data. Subsequently, the data isreproduced based on the reproduction information thus obtained.

Furthermore, the present applicant (joint applicant) proposes aninformation-processing device (for example, an imaging device) mountedwith an optical disk drive, where data can be smoothly reproduced (seeJapanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-4850 (JP 2005-4850 A)).

Furthermore, some of removable media including recording media, such assemiconductor memories, employ a FAT (File Allocation Table) filesystem. The FAT file system is an example of a file system for managingthe data to read and write in a personal computer (PC). A drive for aremovable medium in accordance with the FAT file system can be easilyincorporated in an instrument, compared with the above disk-shapedrecording medium. Thus, as long as the removable medium drive isprovided, the writing of data can be more easily performed by PC or thelike.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The optical disk described in JP 2005-4850A uses a dedicated opticalpickup device to read out the recorded data. Thus, the write of data canbe performed only with an imaging apparatus mounted with an optical diskdrive or with a dedicated bare drive. Therefore, the device isincorporated with a mechanism of checking whether a file can be handled,so that a workable file can be only managed before the data is reallywritten on an optical disk.

On the other hand, in the case of a removable medium managed by the FATfile system, data can be simply written by PC or the like as long as anydrive for such a removable medium is provided.

However, any concrete process for realizing the user's demands(workflows) of reproducing and confirming image data have not beenproposed. In the process, any material shot by the user using an imagingdevice is recorded on a removable medium. The removable medium, on whichimage data is written, is then inserted into the slot of a PC to editthe image data. Subsequently, the image data edited by the PC isrecorded on the removable medium and the removable medium is thenreturned to an imaging device to reproduce and confirm the image data.

It is desirable to provide an imaging device for handling a removablemedium, where the imaging device is allowed to confirm data written byanother equipment and control the data in reproducible state when thedata is reproducible.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the followings areenabled. A first management file is provided for individuallycontrolling control data. On the first management file, an identifierfor uniquely identifying content data is recorded together withreproduction information required for reproduction of the content data.In addition, a second management file is provided for collectivelycontrolling content data. The second management file containsreproduction information of the content data and control information ofthe content data. Here, the control information of the content dataincludes the identifier of the content data and the information ofcontent data for indicting the location of the content data. Both thefirst and second management files are used to control the content datashot by a camera unit and recorded on a removable recording medium. Inthis case, when the recording medium is detached from therecording-and-reproducing apparatus and then attached again thereto orwhen the recording-and-reproducing apparatus is powered on, the controlinformation of the second management file is read out of the recordingmedium and then expanded in a memory. The control information of thesecond management file expanded in the memory is compared with thecontent data recorded on the recording medium. If the result of thecomparison indicates that the control information of the secondmanagement file is not matched with the content data, the controlinformation of the second management file expanded in the memory isupdated.

According to the above configuration, the contents of the contentmanagement file in the recording medium can be matched with the actualfile configuration. Thus, the user may write content data on a recordingmedium optionally by using an apparatus other than therecording-and-reproducing apparatus. Such content data can beautomatically recognized and reproduced as contents as long as beingreproducible in the recording-and-reproducing apparatus.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, arecording-and-reproducing apparatus (for example, a camera built-in typerecording-and-reproducing apparatus, such as a video camera) for handinga removable recording medium can confirm data written by anotherapparatus. If it can be reproduced, the recording-and-reproducingapparatus controls the data in reproducible state. Therefore, forexample, any recording medium, which may not be used as it is, becauseof the possibility of conforming to different format, can be madeoperational.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram that represents a configuration example of avideo-program production supporting system according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram that represents a configuration example of acamera built-in type recording-and-reproducing apparatus shown in FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram that represents a configuration example of arecording-control unit shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram that represents a configuration example of areproduction-control unit of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a diagram that represents a configuration example of a filesystem of a removable medium shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a diagram that represents a configuration example of a clipdirectory shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a diagram that represents a configuration example ofMediaProfile shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart that shows the process of reading outMediaProfile in a camera built-in type recording-and-reproducingapparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart that shows a house-keeping processing.

FIG. 10 is a diagram that represents a configuration example of adirectory of a file recorded on a removable medium.

FIG. 11 is a diagram that represents an example of MediaProfilecorresponding to the directory configuration shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a diagram that represents a configuration example of adirectory when a content file is added to the removable medium havingthe directory configuration of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a diagram that represents MediaProfile of the removablemedium added with the content file.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described withreference to FIGS. 1 to 13.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplified configuration of a system on which acamera built-in type recording-and-reproducing apparatus according to anembodiment of the present invention is applied.

In FIG. 1, a video-program production supporting system 8 is a systeminstalled in a TV-broadcasting station that transmits televisionsignals, a production company for video contents, such as videos andmovies, or the like. In other words, it is a system for producing videoprograms, which are video works of television programs and movies.Specifically, the video-program production supporting system 8 is asystem for effectively producing a video product by allowing metadata orthe like added to the video program and constructed in electronic-fileform to be consistently used among plural posts or stations sharing theproduction of the video program.

As shown in FIG. 1, the video-program production supporting system 8includes: a planning terminal device 6, a network 5, a research terminaldevice 5, an editing terminal device 6, and a removable medium 3. Theplanning terminal device 6 is provided for carrying out planning of avideo program. The network 5 is connected to the planning terminaldevice 6. The research terminal device 4 is connected to the network 5.The editing terminal device 7 is also connected to the network 5. Theremovable medium 3 is provided as a recording medium. In this case, theresearch terminal device 4 includes a camera built-in typerecording-and-reproducing apparatus (imaging device) 1 and a fieldPC/PDA (Personal Computer/Personal Digital Assistant) 2 (hereinafter,referred to as a field PC 2).

The planning terminal device 6 includes, for example, an informationprocessor, such as a personal computer, and its peripheral equipment(s).The planning terminal device 6 is installed in a planning andorganization station or the like where planning of a video program iscarried out. The planning and organization station controls the wholeprocess of video-program production and carries out planning andconstruction of the video program to prepare the script (scenario) ofthe video program. In addition, the planning and organization stationindicates the contents of the production works to other stations, suchas a research station and an editing station. The planning terminaldevice 6 carries out, for example, the process of preparing the metadataof a configuration table in electronic-file form for each video program.The metadata may include the production information corresponding to thescript of the video program, or the like. The planning terminal device 6supplies the generated configuration-table metadata to the researchterminal device 4 or the like through the network 5. Thus, the planningand organization station is allowed to indicate a scene and a content,which should be researched or captured, to the editing station or thelike.

The research terminal device 4 is a group of terminal devices used byediting stations that carry out researches. For instance, the researchterminal device 4 includes a camera built-in typerecording-and-reproducing apparatus 1 and a field PC 2. The editingstation is one in which the research is actually carried out at theproduction site in accordance with, for example, the scenario or theproduction instruction from the planning and organization station. Theediting station takes a picture of each scene constituting a videoprogram and researches the conditions of video-shooting.

The camera built-in type recording-and-reproducing apparatus 1 is, forexample, a video camera, such as COMCORDER®. The video camera is anapparatus used for gathering materials for a broadcast news program,shooting the scenes of a sport game or the like, and shooting a videocontent, such as a movie. The camera built-in typerecording-and-reproducing apparatus 1 is connected to the network 5 andobtains, for example, configuration-table metadata from theaforementioned planning terminal device 6 through the network 5.Subsequently, the camera built-in type recording-and-reproducingapparatus 1 displays the acquired configuration-table metadata on apredetermined display unit, or the like to allow a camera operator or ashooting staff to recognize the content to be shot. Furthermore, thecamera built-in type recording-and-reproducing apparatus 1 is operatedby a shooting staff. The respective scenes constituting a video programare then shot on the basis of the production-instruction information ofthe obtained configuration-table metadata.

The camera built-in type recording-and-reproducing apparatus 1 recordsimage data and audio data obtained by taking a picture on the recordingmedium such as the removable medium 3. At this time, the camera built-intype recording-and-reproducing apparatus 1 records the data ofvideo-contents as one clip as a whole on the recording medium 3 tocontrol the data. Here, the video content data includes image data,audio data, and so on, which correspond to a clip (i.e., a unitrepresenting one imaging-processing).

Furthermore, the camera built-in type recording-and-reproducingapparatus 1 may incorporate not only an original image data (i.e., imagedata obtained by taking a picture) but also low-resolution image data(hereinafter, also referred to as “low-res data”) or the like in a clip.Then, such a clip may be recorded on the removable medium 3 to controlthe data. The original data is high-definition image data having a largeamount of data, so that it can be used for a completed video program. Onthe other hand, the low-res data is image data corresponding to an imageframe with a smaller number of pixels produced by, for example, thinningout some pixels of each frame from the original image data. The low-resdata has a low image quality and a smaller amount of data, compared withthose of the original image data. Thus, the low-res data can be mainlyused in the rough-editing process or the like because of its reducedloads on the respective processes of transmission, reproduction, and soon. Besides, the low-res data can be used for a thumbnail image or thelike.

A plurality of clips recorded on the removable medium 3 by the camerabuilt-in type recording-and-reproducing apparatus 1 are controlled byboth MediaProfile and a clip-information file. MediaProfile, which willbe described later with reference to FIG. 5, collectively controls theplurality of clips. In contrast, the clip-information file, which willbe described later with reference to FIG. 6, controls the data for eachclip, where data includes image data, audio data, or the like, whichconstitute the clip.

In the camera built-in type recording-and-reproducing apparatus 1, theclip image data or the like recorded on the removable medium 3 isdisplayed on a predetermined display unit on the basis of MediaProfileor the clip-information file. The shooting staff then confirms whether apicture is taken in response to the production-instruction information.In addition, the camera built-in type recording-and-reproducingapparatus 1 also allows the shooting staff to continuously confirm aplurality of shot scenes. That is, the shot scenes are continuouslyconfirmed by representing a plurality of clip image data or the likerecorded on the removable medium 3 on the predetermined display unit orthe like on the basis of MediaProfile or the clip-information file as ifdata recorded on a tape is continuously reproduced.

In addition, the clip may be not only a unit representing oneimaging-processing. It may also be a unit representing a time periodfrom the start to the end of taking a picture in the imaging-processing,a unit representing the length of any kind of data obtained by theimaging-processing, or a unit representing the amount of data of anykind of data obtained by the imaging-processing. Alternatively, the clipmay represent the assembly of various kinds of data obtained by theimaging-processing.

A plurality of clips (such as image data and audio data) is recorded asa video-content on the removable medium 3 by the camera built-in typerecording-and-reproducing apparatus 1. Then, the removable medium 3 isbrought to, for example, the editing station or the field PC 2 andutilized therein. However, such transport of the removable medium 3 mayrequire a certain amount of time. Thus, the camera built-in typerecording-and-reproducing apparatus 1 may supply the image data to theplanning terminal device 6, the field PC 2, or the editing terminaldevice 7 through the network 5. In this case, for shortening a transfertime (reducing a load for transfer processing), instead of the imagedata obtained by taking a picture, the camera built-in typerecording-and-reproducing apparatus 1 may preferably supply the low-resdata having a smaller amount of data corresponding to such data.

It should be noted that, the camera built-in typerecording-and-reproducing apparatus 1 may carry out the transmissionprocessing of low-res data in any timing or in parallel with theimaging-processing or collectively after completing theimaging-processing.

As described above, the low-res data is transmitted to the editingstation before transportation of the removable medium 3. Thus, theediting station can carry out an editing task at a comparatively earlystage (for example, simultaneously in parallel with theimaging-processing) even when the transported removable medium 3 is notarrived. Therefore, the efficiency of producing a video program can beraised. Furthermore, when the low-res data is transmitted through thenetwork 5 as described above, the camera built-in typerecording-and-reproducing apparatus 1 may record only the original imagedata and the original audio data on the removable medium 3 (the low-resdata may not be recorded on the removable medium 3).

Furthermore, the recording medium, on which any video content can berecorded by the camera built-in type recording-and-reproducing apparatus1, is not only limited to the exemplified recording medium 3 asdescribed. The recording medium may be any of recording media as far asthe FAT system capable of writing with PC or the like is appliedthereon. The removable media include semiconductor memories, such asflush memories, and other recording media.

The field PC 2 includes, for example, a portable information processor,such as a notebook-type personal computer or PDA, and its peripheralequipment(s). The field PC 2 is connected to the camera built-in typerecording-and-reproducing apparatus 1 through any kind of awired-communication or a wireless-communication. For instance, it canshare the configuration-table metadata and the video-content with thecamera built-in type recording-and-reproducing apparatus 1.

The field PC 2 may obtain, for example, configuration-table metadatafrom the planning terminal device 6 through the network 5.Alternatively, the field PC 2 may obtain configuration-table metadatafrom the camera built-in type recording-and-reproducing apparatus 1through the network 5. The field PC 2 displays the acquiredconfiguration-table metadata on a predetermined display unit to allowthe person in charge of the editing station to recognize the contentswhich should be researched and shot.

Furthermore, the field PC 2 generates information on video-shootingconditions. Here, the video-shooting information is the informationabout the conditions of research and video-shooting generated inresponse to an input by the user, the person in charge of the editingstation. Subsequently, the generated information about the conditions ofvideo-shooting is added to the relevant column in theconfiguration-table metadata. The information about the conditions ofshooting may be text data or the like described from any of variousstand points of every clip or every research location. Such informationmay be useful in the subsequent editing process. In this way, the fieldPC 2 writes the information about the conditions of video-shootingtherein to edit the configuration-table metadata. In addition, the fieldPC 2 supplies the information about the conditions of video-shooting asmetadata to the camera built-in type recording-and-reproducing apparatus1. Subsequently, the metaphase is added to the image data and the audiodata obtained in the camera built-in type recording-and-reproducingapparatus 1.

The editing terminal device 7 includes, for example, an informationprocessor, such as a personal computer, and its peripheral equipment(s).The editing terminal device 7 is installed in an editing station where avideo content is subjected to the editing process. Here, theconfiguration-table metadata or the like reflects the productioninstruction or the scenario in the planning and organization station orthe research situation in the editing station. Based on such metadata orthe like, the editing station can edit the image data and the audio dataobtained by the camera built-in type recording-and-reproducing apparatus1 to complete a video problem.

The editing terminal device 7 obtains, for example, configuration-tablemetadata and low-res data from the camera built-in typerecording-and-reproducing apparatus 1 through the network 5.Furthermore, the editing terminal device 7 obtains the original imagedata and the original data from the removable medium 3. On the removablemedium 3, the clip (including image data and audio data) is recorded bythe camera built-in type recording-and-reproducing apparatus 1.Furthermore, the editing terminal device 7 may also obtaindirect-production instruction (instruction about the editing) from theplanning terminal device 6, the field PC 2, or the like through thenetwork 5.

The editing terminal device 7 reproduces and displays the acquiredvideo-content in a preferable manner based on the configuration-tablemetadata obtained as described above. For instance, the editing terminaldevice 7 is operated by the user to sequentially display the data. Inother words, the low-res data obtained through the network 5 or theoriginal image data and the original audio data recorded on theremovable medium 3 may be displayed in the order according the scenario.The original image data and the original audio data of all clipsrecorded on the removable medium 3 may be sequentially displayed.Alternatively, the image data in the desired clip may be only displayed.In addition, when the original image data recorded on the removablemedium 3 is reproduced, the editing terminal device 7 reads out the datarecorded on the removable medium 3 using a disk device or the like.Alternatively, the editing terminal device 7 may write the data on theremovable medium 3. Furthermore, on this occasion, MediaProfile or aclip-information file for controlling the data recorded on the removablemedium 3 is referenced.

Furthermore, for example, the editing terminal device 7 does not onlyreproduce and display the necessary image data or the like based on theconfiguration-table metadata in a preferable order. The device 7 mayalso carry out the process of editing the image data or the likeobtained by research. For the editing process, there are a rough-editingprocess and an actual editing process.

The rough-editing process represents a simplified editing process onimage data and audio data. For instance, in the rough-editing process,the editing terminal device 7 carries out the selection of a clip to beused in the actual editing among a plurality of clips when these clipsare acquired. Then, a necessary video unit is chosen from the data inthe selected clip (Logging). Subsequently, for example, an editing-startposition (In point) and an editing-end position (Out point)corresponding to the chosen video part are set using time codes or thelike, respectively. The corresponding unit is then extracted from theaforementioned clip data (Ingesting).

The actual editing process is responsible for connecting a plurality ofimage data. Here, the data constitutes each of the clips treated withthe rough-editing process. A final image adjustment or the like iscarried out on the resulting image data to prepare a complete packagedata to be broadcast in a program or the like.

Furthermore, the editing terminal device 7 is also capable of recordingthe image data and the audio data as one clip as a whole on theremovable medium 3 in a manner similar to the camera built-in typerecording-and-reproducing apparatus 1. Here, the image data and theaudio data are obtained, for example, through the network 5 or fromanother recording medium.

Furthermore, a plurality of the planning terminal device 6, the camerabuilt-in type recording-and-reproducing apparatus 1, the field PC 2, theediting terminal device 7, and so on may be provided respectively. Forinstance, image data or the like obtained by more than one camerabuilt-in type -recording-and-reproducing apparatus 1 may be acquired byone editing terminal device 7 from the removable medium 3 or through thenetwork 5. The data may be then subjected to the editing process.Alternatively, more than one editing terminal device 7 may edit the datasupplied from one camera built-in type recording-and-reproducingapparatus 1.

In the above description, functional components are, for example, theplanning terminal device 6, the camera built-in typerecording-and-reproducing apparatus 1, the field PC 2, and the editingterminal device 7. These functional components have been described as,but not limited to, those independent from one another. Alternatively,the functions of the respective components may be partially or whollycombined with one another.

Furthermore, for example, the video-program production supporting system8 may be provided with a center server (not shown) connected to thenetwork 5. The center server is independent from the planning terminaldevice 6, the camera built-in type recording-and-reproducing apparatus1, the field PC 2, and the editing terminal device 7. Thus, the systemmay be configured as a Client/Server system where the planning terminaldevice 6, the camera built-in type recording-and-reproducing apparatus1, the field PC 2, the editing terminal device 7, and so on are providedas the respective clients.

FIG. 2 illustrates in detail an example of the configuration of thecamera built-in type recording-and-reproducing apparatus 1 shown inFIG. 1. In FIG. 2, a central processing device (CPU) 11 executes variousprocesses based on programs stored in a read only memory (ROM) 12. In arandom access memory (RAM) 13, data, programs, and so on, which will berequired by the CPU 11 in executing various processes, are properlystored.

The recording-control unit 14 controls the recording of data on theremovable medium 3 via a drive 27 according to a file system in theremovable medium 3, which will be described later with reference to FIG.5. The data includes image data, audio data, low-res data, or the likesupplied from an encoder/decoder unit 16 or those stored in a memoryunit 24.

A reproduction-control unit 15 controls the drive 27 according to thefile system of the removable medium 3 and then reads out the image data,the audio date, the low-res data, or the like stored in the removablemedium 3. Subsequently, the read-out data is supplied to theencoder/decoder unit 16.

The encoder/decoder unit 16 encodes the image data and the audio datainput from a camera unit 28 or an input unit 22 using a predeterminedcodec and supplies the result to the memory unit 24 or recording-controlunit 14. Furthermore, if necessary, the encoder/decoder unit 16 encodesthe image data input from the input unit 22 based on, for example, theMPEG-4 format and then supplies it as low-res data to the memory unit 24or the recording-control unit 14. In addition, the encoder/decoder unit16 encodes the audio data input from the input unit 22 based on, forexample, the ITU-TG. 711 A-Law format and then supplies it as low-resdata to the memory unit 24 or the recording-control unit 14.

The encoder/decoder unit 16 outputs the image data, the audio data, orthe low-res data supplied from the reproduction-control unit 15 to amonitor, a speaker, or the like that constitutes an output unit 23.

The CPU 11, the ROM 12, the RAM 13, the recording-control unit 14, thereproduction-control unit 15, and the encoder/decoder unit 16 areconnected to one another through a bus 17. In addition, an I/O interface20 is also connected to the bus 17.

The I/O interface 20 is connected to an operation unit 21 constructed ofa key board and a mouse. A signal input into the operation unit 21 isoutput to the CPU 11 through the I/O interface 20. In addition, the I/Ointerface 20 is connected to the camera unit 28, the input unit 22, theoutput unit 23, the memory unit 24, a communication unit 25, a drive 26,and the drive 27. Here, the camera unit 28 is provided for shooting thesubject and inputting the shot image data. The input unit 22 includes amicrophone or the like for inputting audio data. The output unit 23includes a monitor, such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) or a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), and a speaker. The memory unit 24 includes a hard disk,an electronically erasable and programmable read only memory (EEPROM),or the like.

The communication unit 25 exchanges data with the editing terminaldevice 7 and so on. For instance, the communication unit 24 includes anIEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) 1394 port, anUSB (Universal Serial Bus) port, an NIC (Network Interface Card) for theLAN (Local Area Network) connection, an analog modem, a TA (TerminalAdaptor), a DSU (Digital Service Unit), an ADSL (Asymmetric DigitalSubscriber Line) model, or the like. Thus, for example, thecommunication unit 25 may exchange data with the editing terminal device7 or the like through the network 5, such as the Internet or theIntranet.

The drive 27 is designed to detachably connect with the removable medium3. The drive 27 can record image data and audio data on the removablemedium 3 or reproduce the image data and the audio data recorded thereonby actuating the removable medium 3 attached thereon.

The camera unit 28 includes an imaging device, such as a CCD (chargecoupled device) or a CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor), andcoverts a subject's image entered through an optical system formed ofvarious kinds of lenses into an electric signal (i.e., image data). Theimage data is then input into the encoder/decoder unit 16 through theI/O interface 20 and the bus 17 under the control of the CPU 11.

The removable medium 3 may be a flash-memory type recording mediumreferred to as Memory Stick® proposed and produced by the presentapplicant. The Memory Stick® is a small light-weight plate-shapedrecording medium (e.g., dimensions of 21.5 mm in length, 50 mm in width,and 2.8 mm in thickness) and can be used in any of personal computers,digital cameras, potable digital audio players, and so on. The removablemedium 3 may be one having a storage capacity of several tens to severalhundreds gigabytes and the transfer rate thereof may be increased.

The image data, the audio data, and so on recorded on the removablemedium 3 are controlled as clips (files) as a whole by a file system asdescribed later with reference to FIG. 5. In this file system, aplurality of clips recorded on the removable medium 3 is controlledunder MediaProfile and clip information. MediaProfile is a control filethat controls all of the clips recorded on the removable medium 3 andcontains metadata and information described on a clip information file.The clip information file is a control file for controlling laterdescribed essence data (which makes up the clip) every clip.

When the removable medium 3 is attached to the drive 27, MediaProfile isread out of the removable medium 3 and then expanded in the RAM 13. Whenthe clip to be reproduced is indicated, the clip-information file isread out of the removable medium 3 and then expanded in the RAM 13.Hereinafter, the image data, the audio data, the low-res data, and soon, which constitute the clip, will be collectively referred to as“essence data” or “content data”.

If required, the I/O interface 20 is further connected to the drive 26.The drive 26 is used when data is read out of or written on an opticaldisc 9.

The optical disc 9 may be, for example, one capable of recordinglarge-volume data (e.g., 27 GB) at a minimum mark length of 0.14 μm anda recording density of 0.32 μm track-pitch using a purple-blue colorlaser with a numerical-aperture (NA) of 0.85 at a wavelength of 405 nm.In addition, instead of such an optical disc 9, any of other recordingmedia may be used. For example, the media include other kinds of opticaldiscs, such as DVD-RAM (Digital Versatile Disc-Random Access Memory),DVD-R (DVD-Recordable), DVD-RW (DVD-ReWritable), DVD+R (DVD+Recordable),DVD+RW (DVD+ReWritable), CD-R (Compact Disc-Recordable), and CD-RW(CD-ReWritable).

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the optical disc 9 has beenprovided as an example of the recording medium where data is read andwritten by the driver 26. However, the medium is not limited to theoptical disc 9. Any disk-shaped other recording media, such as amagnetic disk and a magneto-optical disk, can be applied.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of the configuration of therecording-control unit 14 shown in FIG. 2. In the example shown in FIG.3, the recording-control unit 14 includes a data-uptake unit 31, aninformation-acquisition unit 32, a data-generating unit 33, aclip-generating unit 34, a MediaProfile updating unit 35, adata-recording unit 36, and a table-recording unit 37.

The data-uptake unit 31 uptakes the image data, the audio data, thelow-res data, and so on from the encoder/decoder unit 16 or the memoryunit 24 and then supplies them to the data-generating unit 33.

In addition, parameter information is stored in the RAM 13. Thus, whenthe information-acquisition unit 32 is instructed by the CPU 11 toinitiate the data recording, the information-acquisition unit 32 obtainsthe parameter information from the RAM 13 and then supplies suchinformation to the data-generating unit 33, the clip-generating unit 34,and the MediaProfile generating unit 35. The parameter information isthe setting information of the camera built-in typerecording-and-reproducing apparatus 1 for allowing the input unit 22 toinput (shooting and recording) the image data and the audio data. Inaddition, the parameter information is reproduction information. Suchinformation includes the information of resolutions of input image dataand input audio data and the type of codec (coding method). In otherwords, the reproduction information can be required when the image dataand the audio data are reproduced. The parameter information ispreviously set in the camera built-in type recording-and-reproducingapparatus 1 or set by the shooting staff or the like through theoperation unit 21 and then stored in the RAM 13.

The data-generating unit 33 generates the respective essence data (theimage data, the audio data, and the low-res data) in a predeterminedformat (e.g., MP4 in FIG. 6). In other words, the essence data isgenerated from the image data, the audio data, and the low-res datasupplied from the data-uptake unit 31 based on the parameter informationfrom the information-acquisition unit 32. Subsequently, the generatedessence data is output to the data recording unit 36. In addition, thedata-generating unit 33 generates metadata and so on in a predeterminedformant, respectively, on the basis of the parameter information fromthe information-acquisition unit 33, followed by outputting to thedata-recording unit 36.

Furthermore, the above essence data may be any of various other files,such as a MP4 file. The MP4 file is one of the file formats. In thisfile, a compressed motion picture, which is in the format of MPEG(moving picture experts group)-4, is stored and defined by Part 14 ofthe ISO/IEC 14496 standard. The motion pictures in the MPEG-2 and MPEG-1formats may be also stored in addition to the motion picture in theMPEG-4 format. In addition, a sound in AAC (advanced audio coding)format, the MP-3 format, or the like; a still picture in JPEG (jointphotographic experts group) format, PNG (portable network graphic)format; and so on can be multiplexed and stored. Thus, the format ofdata therein may not be recognized until the inside of the file isanalyzed.

The clip-generating unit 34 generates a take directory when theparameter information is supplied from the information-acquisition unit32 to generate a new task made up of collected clips for input data. Inaddition, on the basis of the parameter information from theinformation-acquisition unit 32, the clip-generating unit 34 generates aclip-information file on which the attribute information of therespective essence data is described. Such attribute information may berequired for the reproduction of the respective essence data generatedfrom the data-generating unit 33. Subsequently, the clip-generating unit34 outputs the generated clip-information file to the table-recordingunit 37.

The MediaProfile updating unit 35 generates clip elements toMediaProfile on the basis of the parameter information from theinformation-acquisition unit 32, thereby updating MediaProfile. In thiscase the clip elements correspond to the generated clip, whileMediaProfile is read out of the removable medium 3 and expanded in theRAM 13. In each of the clip elements, the attribute information of theclip required for the clip reproduction is described. The MediaProfileupdating unit 35 outputs the updated MediaProfile to a table memory unit37.

The data-recording unit 36 records the data generated from thedata-generating unit 33 on the removable medium 3 through the drive 27.The table-recording unit 37 records the clip directory, theclip-information file, and so on generated by the clip-generating unit34 and MediaProfile updated by the MediaProfile updating unit 35 on theremovable medium 3 through the drive 27.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of the configuration of thereproduction-control unit 15 shown in FIG. 2. In the example shown inFIG. 4, the reproduction-control unit 15 includes a clip-reproducingunit 41, a tape-reproducing unit 42, aMediaProfile-information-acquisition unit 43, and aclip-information-acquisition unit 44. The clip-reproducing unit 41 andthe tape-reproducing unit 42 of the reproduction-control unit 15 controlthe MediaProfile-information-acquisition unit 43 or theclip-information-acquisition unit 44 to read out data from the removablemedium 3. Such a control operation is carried out based on theinstruction of starting the clip reproduction or starting the tapereproduction from the CPU 11.

In contrast to the clip reproduction in which one clip is reproduced,the tape reproduction is a successive clip-reproduction process in whichall clips recorded on the removable medium 3 are continuously reproducedone by one in the order of being recorded as if the tape is reproduced.

The clip-reproducing unit 41 receives the instruction of starting theclip-reproduction from the CPU 11. When received, the clip-reproducingunit 41 controls the MediaProfile-information-acquisition unit 43 or theclip-information-acquisition unit 44 to obtain the information aboutreproduction of a clip. The driver 27 is then controlled based on theobtained information to read out the image data, the audio data, thelow-res data, or the like recorded on the removable medium 3. The imagedata, the audio data, the low-res data, or the like read out of theremovable medium 3 is then supplied to the encoder/decoder unit 16.

The tape-reproducing unit 42 receives the instruction of starting thetape-reproduction from the CPU 11. When received, the tape-reproducingunit 42 controls the MediaProfile-information-acquisition unit 43 or theclip-information-acquisition unit 44 to obtain the information aboutreproduction of the corresponding clip. The driver 27 is then controlledaccording to the obtained information to read out the image data, theaudio data, the low-res data, or the like recorded on the removablemedium 3. The image data, the audio data, the low-res data, or the likeread out of the removable medium 3 is then supplied to theencoder/decoder unit 16. In other words, the tape reproduction unit 42reads out and outputs the clips in the order being registered inMediaProfiles obtained from the MediaProfile information-acquisitionunit 43.

The MediaProfile-information-acquisition unit 43 obtains the informationabout the reproduction of the corresponding clip from MediaProfile ofthe RAM 13 under the control of the clip-reproducing unit 41 or thetape-reproducing unit 42. Subsequently, theMediaProfile-information-acquisition unit 43 outputs the obtainedinformation to the clip-reproducing unit 41 or the tape-reproducing unit42.

The clip-information-acquisition unit 44 reads out the clip-informationfile of the corresponding clip from the removable medium 3 through thedrive 27 and then expands it in the RAM 13 under the control of theclip-reproducing unit 41 or the tape-reproducing unit 42. In addition,the clip-information-acquisition unit 44 obtains the information forreproducing the corresponding clip from the clip information file of theRAM 13. The clip-information-acquisition unit 44 then outputs theinformation to the clip-reproducing unit 41 or the tape-reproducing unit42.

Next, the file system for controlling the data recorded on the removablemedium 3 and directory structure and the files in the file system willbe described. In this file system, the data recorded on the removablemedium 3 can be controlled by the directory structure and the files asshown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of the configuration of the file system ofthe removable medium 3. In FIG. 5, a root directory (ROOT) 51 isprovided with a BPAV directory 52. In the subordinate directories of theBRAV directory 52, information about essence data including image data,audio data, and so on is placed, respectively. Furthermore, the rootdirectory 51 is also provided with configuration-table data and so on(not shown).

The BPAV directory 52 is provided with a volume metafile (VOLMETA.XML)55, MediaProfile (MEDIAPRO.XML) 53, and MediaProfile (MEDIAPRO.BUP) 54.The volume metafile (VOLMETA.XML) 55 is a file that containsinformation. The information may be of, for example, the title of orcomments on all essence data recorded in the removable medium 3. Inaddition, the information may be of, for example, the pass of image datacorresponding to the representative image as the representative frame ofall image data recorded in the removable medium 3. The MediaProfile(MEDIAPRO.XML) 53 may contain, for example, control information forcontrolling all clips recorded on the removable medium 3. TheMediaProfile (MEDIAPRO.BUP) 54 may be a copy of the MediaProfile 53. Thepreparation of two files may increase reliability.

The BPAV directory 52 is further provided with a cue-up information file(CUEUPINFO.XML) 56 and a cue-up information file (CUEUPINFO.BUP) 57.Each of the files is metadata for the whole data recorded on theremovable medium 3 and may be, for example, a file containinginformation, such as a medium attribute, a reproduction-startingposition, or Reclnhi. Furthermore, the cue-up information file 57 is acopy of the cue-up information file 56. Preparation of two files mayincrease reliability. However, when the information is updated, thecue-up information file 56 may be only updated.

Furthermore, in addition to the aforementioned files, the BPAV directory52 is further provided with a clip root directory (CLPR) 58 where clipdata are placed in subordinate directories.

In the clip root directory (CLPR) 58, the clip data recorded on theremovable medium 3 is divided every clip to be controlled in differentdirectories. For instance, in the case of FIG. 5, the data of two clipsare divided into two directories; a clip directory(200709_(—)0001_(—)01) 61 and a clip directory (200709_(—)0001_(—)02)62, and controlled. In other words, each data of the first clip recordedon the removable medium 3 is controlled as a file in a subordinatedirectory of the clip directory 61. In addition, each data of the secondclip recorded on the removable medium 3 is controlled as a file in asubordinate directory of the clip directory 62.

Furthermore, each clip directory contains rewrite-and-deletion-inhibitattribute information. The rewrite-and-deletion-inhibit attribute ofeach data is controlled as a subordinate directory of each clipdirectory. Besides, such attribute is controlled based on therewrite-and-deletion-inhibit attribute information of the superordinateclip directory.

In the subordinate directory of the clip directory 61 provided on theaforementioned clip root directory 58, each data of the clip initiallyrecorded on the removable medium 3 is provided as a file as shown inFIG. 6 and controlled.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of the configuration of the clip directory61 shown in FIG. 5. In the case of FIG. 6, the clip directory 61includes the following files:

a clip-information file (200709_(—)0001_(—)01.SMI) 71, which is providedfor controlling the clip;

an image data file (200709_(—)0001_(—)01.MP4) 72, which is the imagedata (including audio data) file of the clip;

a clip metadata file (200709_(—)0001_(—)01.XML) 82, which contains clipmetadata; here, the clip metadata is one on which any real-time propertyis not demanded and is provided for, for example, a conversion table formaking a correlation between LTC (linear time code) and the framenumber, corresponding to essence data of this clip;

a frame metadata file (200709_(—)0001_(—)01.BIM) 83, which containsframe metadata; here, the frame metadata is one, such as LTC, on whichany real-time property is demanded, including low-res data correspondingto the image data of the clip, corresponding to the essence data of theclip;

a picture pointer file (200709_(—)0001_(—)01.PPN) 84, on which theframe-structure of the image data file 72 is described; here, the framestructure includes, for example, the information about the framestructure of the image data file 72 (e.g., information about compressionformat of each picture in the MPEG format or the like and theinformation about offset addresses or the like from the first of files);and the like. It should be noted that, as described above, therewrite-and-deletion-inhibit attributes of these files are controlledbased on the rewrite-and-deletion-inhibit attribute informationcontained in the clip directory 61.

In the case of FIG. 6, the image data, the low-resdata, and the framemetadata, on which real-time properties can be demanded at the time ofreproduction, are collectively controlled as a single file to prevent anincrease in read-out time.

Similarly, the image data, the low-res data, and the frame metadata maybe also controlled as two or more files depending on circumstances,respectively.

In FIG. 6, furthermore, the clip metadata, on which any real-timeproperty is demanded, is controlled as a file different from the framemetadata on which the real-time property is demanded. This is becausenon-desired metadata is prevented from reading out during the usualreproduction of the image data or the like. Consequently, a reduction intime of reproduction process and a reduction in load required for theprocess can be attained.

Here, the clip metadata file 73 is described in XML (extensible markuplanguage) format to give general versatility. The frame metadata file 74is a BIM-formant file obtained by compiling an XML-formant file toreduce the processing time of the reproduction process and the loadrequired for the process.

The exemplified file configuration of the clip directory 61 shown inFIG. 6 can be also applied to all of clip directories corresponding tothe respective clips recorded on the removable medium 3. In other words,the exemplified file configuration shown in FIG. 6 can be applied toanother clip directory 62 shown in FIG. 5. Thus, the description thereofwill be omitted.

In the above description, an example applied to been described. However,the configuration of the file is not restricted by the examples asdescribed above. As far as any clip metadata file corresponding to theclip is present in the subordinate directory of each clip directory, thefilm may have any configuration.

In the aforementioned example, the image data, the audio data, thelow-res data, and so on in the MP4 formant (i.e., file formant forstoring a compressed motion picture in the MPEG format) have beenexemplified, but not limited thereto. The aforementioned example may beapplied to image data, audio data, low-res data, and so on in any ofother file formants, such the MXF (material exchange format)-fileformat.

Next, MediaProfile of the file system in the removable medium 3 will bedescribed. As described above, MediaProfile includes ClipTable on whichinformation for collectively controlling all clips recorded on theremovable disk 3 is described. ClipTable further contains controlinformation of essence data (e.g., image data, audio data, and low-resdata). In addition, MediaProfile is a file to be mainly used in theremovable medium 3 for controlling data therein and controlled in theXML formant with its own schema.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of the MediaProfile 53 shown in FIG. 5.Here, in FIG. 7, the numeral on each head line and the colon mark (:)are only provided for convenient description, but not part of codes.

In <?xml version=“1.0” encoding=“UTF-8”?> in the first line represents,the MediaProfile 53 is described in the XML formant (version “1.0”) inthe second and subsequent lines and is encoded in UTF-8. In the exampleof FIG. 7, from the second line to the forth line (<MediaProfilexmlns=“http://xmlns.sony.net/pro/metadata/MediaProfile”createdAt=“2006-12-01T14:43:30+09:00”version=“1.00”>, the followings arerepresented: the most significant element <MediaProfile xmlns=“ . . . >and the attributes of the most significant element “createdAt=” and“version=”. “createdAt=” shows the created date and time of theMediaProfile 53. In addition, “version=” shows a schema version of theMediaProfile 53. The first to fourth lines as described above representsthe attributes of the camera built-in type recording-and-reproducingapparatus 1 forming the MediaProfile 53 of the removable element 3attached thereto.

The element <Contents> on lines 5 to 24 is one representing the list ofmaterials (clips) of the removable medium 3 attached to the camerabuilt-in type recording-and-reproducing apparatus 1. In addition, onlines 6 to 20, information corresponding to the clip directory(200709_(—)0001_(—)01) 61 is described. On lines 21 to 23, informationcorresponding to a clip directory (200709_(—)0001_(—)02) 62 isdescribed. If there is no material, the element is not generated.

Elements in <Material> on lines 6 to 9 are sub-elements of the element<Contents>, all of which are essential descriptive elements except ofvideoType, audioType, and aspectRatio attributes. In this example,MPEG-2 is employed as a file formant of the image data.

The element <Material uri> on line 6 indicates the location of thecorresponding clip (200709_(—)0001_(—)01.SMI) on the directoryhierarchy. The <umid> attribute on line 9 represents a sole identifierin the worldwide set to the clip (200709_(—)0001_(—)01.SMI). The element<Component uri> on line 10 is one that describes essence data(200709_(—)0001_(—)01.MP4) corresponding to the element <Material uri>.The element <RelevantInfo uri> on lines 14 to 16 is one relating to theclip (200709_(—)0001_(—)01.SMI) and represents non-real time metadata,real-time meta data, and a picture pointer.

On lines 21 to 23, there is the information corresponding to the clipdirectory (200709_(—)0001_(—)02) 62 with the same configuration as thatof the above clip directory (200709_(—)0001_(—)01) 61. Thus, thedetailed explanation of the former will be omitted here as the foregoingexplanation of the latter can be applied.

As mentioned above, the information required for the reproduction ofessence data constituting the clip is described on MediaProfile. Suchinformation may be, for example, information indicating the location ofthe essence data on the directory hierarchy and the accompanyinginformation to the essence data. Therefore, the essence data in the clipcan be read out and the accompanying information to the essence data,which is required for the reproduction of such data, is immediatelyobtained by referring to MediaProfile even without interpreting theinformation required for the reproduction.

Furthermore, MediaProfile uses universal SMIL and the clip-constitutingessence data is then under the control of universal SMIL. Thus,MediaProfile can be easily used in an external device.

Subsequently, with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 8, the read-outMediaProfile process carried out when the removable medium 3 is attachedto (mounted to) the camera built-in type recording-and-reproducingapparatus 1 will be described.

The shooting staff mounts the removable medium 3 on the drive 27 forrecording image data and audio data obtained by shooting with the camerabuilt-in type recording-and-reproducing apparatus 1. Alternatively, theremovable medium 3 is mounted on the drive 27 for reproducing thecontents, such as image data, audio data, and low-res data, recorded onthe removable medium 3.

The CPU 11 performs the process of determining whether the removablemedium 3 is mounted on the drive 27 (Step S1). If the removable medium 3is not mounted on the drive 27, then the CPU 11 is kept in the suspendedstate until the mount. If the CPU 11 detects the mount of the removablemedium 3 on the drive 27, then the CPU 11 informs and instructs thereproduction-control unit 15 to carry out the reproduction. Thereproduction-control unit 15 controls the drive 27 to read outMediaProfile (e.g., MediaProfile 53) (Step S2) and then expanded(loaded) in the RAM 13, thereby terminating the read of MediaProfile.

In this way, the camera built-in type recording-and-reproducingapparatus 1 reads out mediaProfile from the removable medium 3 once theremovable medium 3 is attached to the drive 27. MediaProfile is thenexpanded in the RAM 13. In the subsequent process, the writing andreading of data can be carried out on the removable medium 3 based onMediaProfile expanded in the RAM 13. Consequently, the data recorded onthe removable medium 3 (i.e., contents, such as image data, audio data,and low-res data) can be accessed quickly.

As described above, the clip information on the removable medium 3 iscopied on MediaProfile to allow the construction of a group of clipsfrom the MediaProfile. MediaProfile is one of the data controlled bysoftware on an operation memory (e.g., RAM 13) and provided as a list ofclips present in the removable medium 3. The MediaProfile (MEDIAPRO.XML)53 is one of management files in the removable medium 3, or a real-filedMediaProfile. MediaProfile can be obtained by reading it when theremovable medium 3 is mounted on the camera built-in typerecording-and-reproducing apparatus 1.

In the above description, the MediaProfile read-out process has beenexplained to be carried out when the removable medium 3 is mounted onthe camera built-in type recording-and-reproducing apparatus 1.Alternatively, it may be carried out when the camera built-in typerecording-and-reproducing apparatus 1, on which the removable medium 3is being mounted, is powered on.

Here, when MediaProfile is considered to be defective because of anyreason even though the MediaProfile is originally supposed to be aproduct of copying a real-file structure, there is a need of correctionto fit to the real-file structure. Here, such a correction procedure(contents management) is referred to as “house-keeping”. Thehouse-keeping used herein and the functions thereof may have thefollowing characteristic features: at first, MediaProfile can be updatedunder predetermined conditions; and secondary, the updated MediaProfileis written back to MediaProfile in the removable medium 3.

The house-keeping processing is carried out to make a removable mediumoperational when the removable medium uses a different format and cannotbe used as it is. The house-keeping processing may be required under thefollowing cases:

a first case is that any MediaProfile (MEDIAPRO.XML) 53 provided as amanagement file is not found in the removable medium 3; and

a second case is that there is a difference between the contents ofMediaProfile and the actual state of being recorded on the removablemedium 3. In the second case, the contents of MediaProfile are obtainedby reading out the MediaProfile (MEDIAPRO.XML) 53 being present as amanagement file in the movable medium 3 when the removable medium 3 ismounted on the camera built-in type recording-and-reproducing apparatus1. The above second case may be, for example, the case in which theaddition or deletion of the content file is carried out withoutreflecting on the MediaProfile (MEDIAPRO.XML) 53 by any apparatus otherthan camera built-in type recording-and-reproducing apparatus 1.

Here, the outline of the house-keeping processing will be described.When the existing MediaProfile is present, MediaProfile is compared withthe BPAV directory structure and then updated under predeterminedconditions. In the house-keeping process, the update is only performedon MediaProfile. Any of files, except of the MediaProfile (MEDIAPRO.XML)53 placed below the BPAV directory 52 on the removable medium 3, may notbe edited and deleted. In addition, any of files, except of theMediaProfile (MEDIAPRO.XML) 53, may not be newly prepared.

When MediaProfile is updated, it can be reflected to the MediaProfile(MEDIAPRO.XML) 53 at an appropriate timing as long as the removablemedium 3 is in a writable state. In contrast, when the removable medium3 is in an unwritable state, there is no need of updating theMediaProfile (MEDIAPRO.XML) 53 but keeping MediaProfile to date.

Next, the house-keeping processing will be described in detail withreference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 9. FIGS. 10 to 13 will bereferenced for the aid of describing the flowchart of the house-keepingprocessing of FIG. 9. FIG. 10 illustrates an example of the directoryconfiguration when a file is mounted based on the file system of theremovable medium 3. FIG. 11 illustrates an example of MediaProfilecorresponding to the directory configuration of FIG. 10. FIG. 12illustrates an example of the directory configuration when a contentfile is added to the removable medium 3 of the directory configurationof FIG. 10. FIG. 13 illustrates an example of MediaProfile of theremovable medium 3 added with the content file. Furthermore, in FIG. 10and FIG. 12, any structural components corresponding to those in FIG. 5are provided with the same symbols to omit the detailed descriptionsthereof, respectively.

In FIG. 10, one prefixed with the plus sign (+) indicates the presenceof a sub-element in the directory. The same will be also applied to FIG.12 as described later. In FIG. 10, the BPAV directory 52 is formeddirectly under the root directory of the removable medium 3. Inaddition, directly under the BPAV directory 52, the MediaProfile(MEDIAPRO, XML) 53 and the cue-up information file (CUEUPINFO.XML) 56are formed. The MediaProfile (MEDIAPRO, XML) 53 contains controlinformation or the like for controlling all clips and an edit listrecorded in the removable medium. The cue-up information file(CUEUPINFO. XML) 56 is a file that contains information of, for example,a medium attribute, a reproduction-starting position, or Reclnhi, whichis a metadata for the whole data recorded on the removable medium 3.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the BPAV directory 52 is provided with thevolume metafile (VOLMETA.XML) 55, the MediaProfile (MEDIAPRO.BUP) 54,and the cue-up information file (CUEUPINFO.BUP) 57. The volume metafile(VOLMETA.XML) 55 is a file that contains information. The informationmay be of, for example, the pass of image data corresponding to therepresentative image as the representative frame of all image datarecorded on the removable medium 3. Both the MediaProfile (MEDIAPRO.BUP)54 and the cue-up information file (CUEUPINFO. BUP) 57 are provided forbackup, respectively. The description of these files is herein omitted.

Furthermore, in addition to the aforementioned files, a clip rootdirectory (CLPR) 58 and a general directory (General) 59 are furtherarranged in the subordinate directories of the BPAV directory 52. Theclip root directory (CLPR) 58 contains essence data (content data), suchas image data and audio data clip data. A general directory (General) 59is provided for MediaProfile but not for clip. MediaProfile does notreflect the information of the general directory which is not clipinformation.

In the clip root directory (CLPR) 58, the clip data recorded on theremovable medium 3 is divided every clip into different directories andcontrolled. For instance, in the case of FIG. 10, five directories arecontrolled. That is, the directories are a clip directory(200709_(—)0001_(—)01) 121, a clip directory (200709_(—)0002_(—)01) 122,a clip directory (200709_(—)0003_(—)01) 123, a clip directory(200709_(—)0003_(—)02) 124, and a clip directory (FUJI0004_(—)01) 125.

For instance, the clip directory 123 contains the following files:

a clip information file (200709_(—)0003_(—)01.SMI) for controlling theclip;

a content data file (200709_(—)0003_(—)01.MP4), which is a filecontaining the image data or the like of the clip;

a clip metadata file (200709_(—)0003_(—)01M01.XML), which is metadata onwhich real-time property is not demanded, corresponding to the essencedata of the clip;

a frame metadata file (200709_(—)0003_(—)01R01.BIN), which is metadataon which real-time property is demanded, corresponding to the essencedata of the clip;

a picture pointer file (200709_(—)0003_(—)01I01.PPN), which is a file onwhich a frame structure of the image data file (e.g., information abouta compression formant for every picture in MPEG or the like andinformation about offset addresses or the like from the first of file);and the like.

In the example shown in FIG. 10, MP4 files are used as content data inthe respective clip directories. The MP4 file can save both image dataand audio data. However, instead of the MP4, any of other file formats,such as the MXF file format, may be used. In this case, for example, theimage data and the audio data can be controlled as different files inone clip directory.

The configuration example of the clip index 123 shown in FIG. 10 can beapplied to all of clip directories corresponding to the respective clipsrecorded in the removable medium 3. In other words, thefile-configuration example of the clip index 123 can be applied even inother clip directories 121, 122, 124, and 125 as illustrated in FIG. 10,so that the description thereof will be omitted hereinafter.

The clip directory (FUJI0000_(—)01) 125 is an example in which the nameof the directory is changed from the voluntary serial number providedwhen the clip is generated in the camera built-in typerecording-and-reproducing apparatus 1 to “FUJI0004_(—)1” desired by theuser.

FIG. 11 shows the list of materials of the MediaProfile (MEDIAPRO.XML)53 as represented in FIG. 10. From lines 2 to 19 of the contents of theMediaProfile 53, locations of the files on the directory hierarchy arerepresented, as material items, respectively. Here, the files aresubordinate to the clip root directory (CLPR) 58 shown in FIG. 10 andinclude: the clip directory (200709_(—)0001_(—)01) 121, the clipdirectory (200709_(—)0002_(—)01) 122, the clip directory(200709_(—)0003_(—)01) 123, and the clip directory(200709_(—)0003_(—)02) 124.

In addition, from lines 20 to 22, as material items, locations on thedirectory hierarchy of the files of the clip directory (FUJI0004_(—)01),which is subordinate to the clip root directory (CLPR) 58 as shown inFIG. 10, are shown.

Here, the removable medium 3 having the directory configuration as shownin FIG. 10 is detached from the camera built-in typerecording-and-reproducing apparatus 1 and then attached to any of thefield PC 2, the planning terminal device 6, or the editing terminaldevice 7. Next, the case in which content data recorded on the removablemedium 3 is edited using any of the above medium-mounting devices willbe described. Here, the term “editing” means an operation accompanied bythe addition or deletion of content data.

As a result of the above editing, the directory configuration of thefile system in the removable medium 3 may be changed to one shown inFIG. 12 by an external apparatus other than the camera built-in typerecording-and-reproducing apparatus 1. The directory configuration shownin FIG. 21 is formed such that that files of content data (Kampake.MP4)corresponding to the clip directly under the clip root directory (CLPR)58 is added to the directory configuration shown in FIG. 10, while otherstructures are not changed. At this time, the MediaProfile(MEDIAPRO.XML) 53 of the removable medium 3 is not changed. In otherwords, the file information of the additional content data 146 is notreflected to the MediaProfile (MEDIAPRO.XML) 53.

When removable medium 3 added with the above additional content data 146is retuned to the camera built-in type recording-and-reproducingapparatus 1 and then mounted thereon again, the camera built-in typerecording-and-reproducing apparatus 1 starts the reading of theMediaProfile (MEDIAPRO.XML) 53 as shown in FIG. 7. Subsequently, if itsatisfies the predetermined conditions, then the house-keepingprocessing of FIG. 9 is carried out.

Here, the above description has explained that the house-keepingprocessing is carried out when the removable medium 3 is attached to(mounted on) the camera built-in type recording-and-reproducingapparatus 1. However, the house-keeping processing may be also carriedout when the camera built-in type recording-and-reproducing apparatus 1,on which the removable medium 3 is being mounted, is powered on.

As shown in FIG. 9, at first, the reproduction-control unit 15 of thecamera built-in type recording-and-reproducing apparatus 1 obtainsinformation that specifies a device having the latest updated filesystem of the removable medium 3. In other words, the information aboutan individual in charge of the last altered information data (LVID) isobtained and then used in determination of whether the individualcorresponds to that of the camera built-in typerecording-and-reproducing apparatus 1.

When the individual in charge of the last varied information data (LVID)corresponds to the camera built-in type recording-and-reproducingapparatus 1, it means that the MediaProfile (MEDIAPRO.XML) 53 thereof isfinally edited by the camera built-in type recording-and-reproducingapparatus 1. In this case, the content data is edited using the camerabuilt-in type recording-and-reproducing apparatus 1 and the clip orMediaProfile is then modified through the predetermined processing.Therefore, no problem occurs with respect to the reproduction after thereattachment of the removable medium 3. In this case, therefore, afurther specific processing is not carried out and the mount of theremovable medium 3 is then completed.

Furthermore, in the reproduction-control unit 15, MediaProfile isalready present. Thus, in addition to confirm the individual in chargeof LVID, the reproduction-control unit 15 confirms that the contentsbeing described as the clip in MediaProfile matches the clip name (thename of clip directory and single MP4 file name) (Step S11). Whenmatched, no specific processing is carried out and the mount of theremovable medium is the completed.

If none of the above conditions is satisfied, the reproduction-controlunit 15 gives a system controller (syscom) (e.g., CPU 11) a notice thatthe house-keeping processing is required and then follows executioninstruction from the CPU 11 (Step S12). If the house-keeping is notcarried out, a medium-mount error occurs and the processing is thenterminated in a state of dealing with the error. When the execution ofhouse-keeping processing is instructed, then the process proceeds to thenext step.

The reproduction-control unit 15 makes a comparison between MediaProfile(MEIAPRO.XML) 53 expanded in the RAM 13 and the designated group offiles below the BPAV directory 52 in the removable medium 3 to determinewhether the MediaProfile (MEDIAPRO.XML) 53 should be corrected or not(Step S13). If the requirements of the above comparison are notsatisfied, the MediaProfile (MEDIAPRO.XML) 53 does not require anycorrection and the mount of the removable medium 3 is then completed.The contents of the comparison are as follows:

At first, if a content data file, which does not already described inthe existing MediaProfile (MEDIAPRO.XML) 53, is present and thefollowing requirements are all satisfied, then such a file is added as aclip to the MediaProfile (MEDIAPRO.XML) 53.

[1] MP4 file exists directly under the clip root directory (CLPR) 58, orone or more MP4 files exist under the clip directory.

[2] The MP4 file satisfies the requirements as a clip as describedbelow. In other words, in this example, the MP4 added to the removablemedium 3 satisfies the requirements specified on the item of Part 14 inthe ISO/IEC 14496 standard. Furthermore, the MP4 file added by theexternal apparatus can be handled by the camera built-in typerecording-and-reproducing apparatus 1.

Secondary, the content data file and the clip are previously describedin the existing MediaProfile (MEDIAPRO.XML) 53 and the correspondingclip (content data) and the clip directory satisfy the followingrequirements, the description is deleted from the MediaProfile(MEDIAPRO.XML) 53.

[1] The MP4 file should be located directly below the clip rootdirectory (CLPR) 58 but not found in the removable medium 3.

[2] No clip directory

In this case, as shown in FIG. 13, the MP4 file is present directlybelow the clip root directory (CLPR) 58 but no description is found inthe existing MediaProfile (MEDIAPRO.XML) 53. Thus, it satisfies theabove first requirement.

If it is determined that the MediaProfile (MEDIAPRO.XML) 53 should becorrected, the recording-control unit 14 updates the contents of theMediaProfile (MEDIAPRO.XML) 53 expanded in the RAM 13 (Step S14).

Furthermore, the recording-control unit 14 determines whether therecording medium 3 is in a rewritable state (Step S15). If it isdetermined that the recording medium 3 is in a rewritable state, thenthe contents of MediaProfile added with the above correction is writtenin the removable medium 3 based on the format defined by “MEDIAPRO.XML”(Step S16). Consequently, the mount-processing of the removable medium 3is completed.

On the other hand, in the processing of Step S15, if the removablemedium 3 is unwritable due to any reason, no writing is carried out inthe removable medium 3. Consequently, the mount of the removable medium3 is completed.

The MediaProfile (MEDIAPRO.XML) 53 of the removable medium 3 added withthe content data 146 of FIG. 12 is corrected as described in FIG. 13 bythe above house-keeping treatment. In the list of materials ofMediaProfile as shown in FIG. 13, the location of each file of the clip(Campake.MP4) on the directory hierarchy directly below the clip-rootdirectory (CLPR) 58 is represented on line 23 of the content column.

As described above, in the above embodiment, the compatibility of thefile (content data) registered in MediaProfile (content management file)and the actual file is investigated. If any unregistered file is found,then the reproducibility thereof is investigated. If it is reproducible,then the file information is registered to the content management file(house-keeping processing). As constructed in this way, the contents ofMediaProfile in the removable medium can be matched with the actual fileconfiguration. Therefore, any file (content data) arbitrarily written ina memory medium using any apparatus, such as PC, other than the camerabuilt-in type recording-and-reproducing apparatus, can be automaticallyrecognized and reproduced as a content with respecte to the reproduciblefile in the camera built-in type recording-and-reproducing apparatus.The removable medium having a possibility of different format and maynot be used as it is, can be changed into a usable state.

In addition, the above comparison processing is not carried out when theinformation about an individual in charge of the last varied informationdata in the removable medium attached to the camera built-in typerecording-and-reproducing apparatus corresponds to the camera built-intype recording-and-reproducing apparatus. If it is surely determinedthat there is no format difference, then no comparison is conductedbetween the file registered in MediaProfile and the actual file.Consequently, if there may be a possibility of format difference,house-keeping is conducted. Therefore, the range of targets to besubjected to the house-keeping processing can be narrowed, therebyavoiding needless processing.

Also, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the userwrites content data on the removable medium using PC or the like. Whenthe removable medium is then inserted into a slot of the camera built-intype recording-and-reproducing apparatus, the house-keeping function ofthe camera built-in type recording-and-reproducing apparatus is employedto investigate whether the content is reproducible. In this case, thehouse-keeping processing is performed on the content data placeddirectly in a subordinate specific folder or in the arbitrarysubordinate folder below the specific folder. If it is determined thatthe content data is reproducible, then it is registered to MediaProfile(content management file) in the camera built-in typerecording-and-reproducing apparatus, thereby being handled in the camerabuilt-in type recording-and-reproducing apparatus. Consequently, athumbnail display and reproduction can be obtainable.

It is not realistic for the camera built-in typerecording-and-reproducing apparatus to cope with any case in which anyfolder and content data are arbitrarily formed and stored any positionin a removable medium. For example, the processing load and responserate of the camera built-in type recording-and-reproducing apparatusshould be considered. However, it becomes realistic by constructing asdescribed above. That is, the content data arbitrarily written in theremovable medium by the user with PC or the like can be automaticallyrecognized and reproduced as a content as long as it is written in apredetermined location and reproducible in the camera built-in typerecording-and-reproducing apparatus. As a result, the processing loaddecreases while increasing the response rate as locations to be searchedare restricted.

In this way, according to an embodiment of the present invention, theuser is allowed to write content data in a removable medium to be usedas a recording medium in the camera built-in typerecording-and-reproducing apparatus by PC or the like. Then, theremovable medium is inserted into a slot of the camera built-in typerecording-and-reproducing apparatus. On this occasion, the house-keepingfunction of the camera built-in type recording-and-reproducing apparatusinvestigates as follows: for the content data in an arbitrary folderthat satisfies certain requirements, the reproduction of the contentdata is investigated. When the content data is determined to bereproducible, the content data is registered in the content managementfile (e.g., MediaProfile) of the camera built-in typerecording-and-reproducing apparatus. Thus, the camera built-in typerecording-and-reproducing apparatus is allowed to display a thumbnail,reproduces the information, and so on.

Furthermore, in the description of the house-keeping processing in theabove embodiment, the file format of the additional content data hasbeen exemplified as a MP4 file capable of combining image data withaudio data. However, it is not limited to such a format. For example,only image data, only audio data, or only thumbnail-displaying data maybe used.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

1. A recording-and-reproducing apparatus for managing content data recorded on a removable recording medium, comprising: means for acquiring reproduction information required for reproducing the content data when the content data is recorded; means for generating a first management file for individually managing the content data, on which an identifier for uniquely identifying the content data and the reproduction information obtained by the information-acquisition means are described; means for registering control information for the content data including the reproduction information and the identifier of the content data contained in the first management file and location information of the content data, in a second management file collectively managing the content data; means for reading out the control information in the second management file recorded on the recording medium when the recording medium is detached from and again attached to the recording-and-reproducing apparatus or when the recording-and-reproducing apparatus is powered on; a memory in which the control information in the second management file read out by the read-out means is expanded; means for comparing the control information in the second management file expanded in the memory and the content data recorded on the recording medium; and means for updating the control information in the second management file expanded in the memory when the control information in the second management file recorded on the recording medium is not coincident with the content data as a result of the comparison by the comparison means.
 2. A recording-and-reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the comparison means does not carry out the comparison process when final update information of the recording medium indicates the recording-and-reproducing apparatus to which the recording medium is attached.
 3. A recording-and-reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, when information about the content data recorded on the recording medium is not described in the control information in the second management file expanded in the memory as a result of the comparison by the comparison means, the updating means describes the information of the content data on the control information in the second management file.
 4. A recording-and-reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when information about content data, which is not present in the recording medium, is described in the control information in the second management file expanded in the memory as a result of the comparison by the comparison means, the updating means deletes the information about the content data from the control information in the second management file.
 5. A recording-and-reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the comparison means compares content data and the control information in the second management file expanded in the memory, the content data being located directly below a directory having a content data directory as a subordinate layer and positioned on a subordinate layer of a route directory of a file system of the recording medium, or the content data being located below a content directory formed on a subordinate layer of the directory having the content data directory as a subordinate layer.
 6. A recording-and-reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: means for recording the control information in the updated second management file on the recording medium after updating the control information in the second management file.
 7. A method for managing content data recorded on a removable recording medium, using a first management file for independently managing the content data, on which an identifier for uniquely identifying the content data and reproduction information required for the reproduction of the content data are described, and a second management file for collectively managing the content data, including the reproduction information and the identifier of the content data contained in the first management file and control information of the content data having location information of the content data, the method comprising the steps of: reading out control information in the second management file recorded on the recording medium when the recording medium is detached from and again attached to the recording-and-reproducing apparatus or when the recording-and-reproducing apparatus is powered on; expanding the control information in the second management file read out by the process of the reading-out step, in a memory; comparing the control information in the second management file expanded in the memory and the content data recorded on the recording medium; and updating the control information in the second management file expanded in the memory when the control information in the second management file recorded on the recording medium is not coincident with the content data as a result of the comparison by the comparison step.
 8. A recording-and-reproducing apparatus for managing content data recorded on a removable recording medium, comprising: a device configured to acquire reproduction information required for reproducing the content data when the content data is recorded; a device configured to generate a first management file for individually managing the content data, on which an identifier for uniquely identifying the content data and the reproduction information obtained by the information-acquisition device, are described; a device configured to register control information for the content data including the reproduction information and the identifier of the content data contained in the first management file and location information of the content data, in a second management file collectively managing the content data; a device configured to read out the control information in the second management file recorded on the recording medium when the recording medium is detached from and again attached to the recording-and-reproducing apparatus or when the recording-and-reproducing apparatus is powered on; a memory in which the control information in the second management file read out by the read-out device is expanded; a device configured to compare the control information in the second management file expanded in the memory and the content data recorded on the recording medium; and a device configured to update the control information in the second management file expanded in the memory when the control information in the second management recorded on the recording medium is not coincident with the content data as a result of the comparison by the comparison device. 